COL Diana C. Loucks

COL Diana Loucks is an academy professor and director of advanced physics in the Department of Physics & Nuclear Engineering at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York.

She holds a master’s and a doctoral degree in aerospace engineering sciences from the University of Colorado Boulder and a bachelor of science in mathematics from Texas Christian University.

Commissioned in 1996, Loucks served 13 years as an Army signal officer with assignments in South Korea, Germany, and Fort Bragg, North Carolina, including a deployment in support of Multi-National Corps–Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2009, she transitioned to a space operations officer role, serving as chief of space and special programs for the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado, where she supported combat operations with Combined Joint Task Force–4 in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

During her master’s studies, Loucks led the communications subsystem design for the Drag and Atmospheric Neutral Density Explorer (DANDE), which won the University Nanosat V Competition sponsored by the Air Force Research Laboratory. Upon returning to USMA as an academy professor, she became the first West Point faculty member to earn the National Science Foundation Early Career Development Program Award for her research on ionospheric interference and its impact on navigation solutions.

Her military awards include the Bronze Star Medal (one oak leaf cluster), Meritorious Service Medal (one oak leaf cluster), Army Commendation Medal (three oak leaf clusters), Air Force Commendation Medal, and Military Outstanding Volunteer Medal. She has also earned the Master Space and Basic Parachutist badges. In 2022, she received the Outstanding Alumni for Excellence in Public Service award from the University of Colorado Ann and H.J. Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department.

Loucks is stationed at West Point with her husband, retired Lt. Col. Gary A. Loucks Jr., and their three beagles, Leo, Clay, and Bentley. She also serves as the faculty officer in charge of the Protestant Chapel Choir.